Appeal For Aid To Entertain Men Of Merchant Service

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1942, Page 5

Appeal For Aid To Entertain Men Of Merchant Service

The sponsoring of public support for the British Sailors' Society, which provides entertamment and comforts lor men of the merchant service during their stay in port, is being undertaken by Padre J. E. Lea, Wellington, port mission er, who is visiting Taranaki. The society is inter-denominational, and on Sunday Mr. Lea addressed congregations at the Hawera Baptist and Presbyterian churches. With the co-operation o* church organisations, W.D.F.U. branches shh Women's Institutes, it is proposed to hold a street appeal at Hawera, Eltham, Stratford and Patea at some time in November to increase the membership of the society to 1500 and raise funds by donations in cash or clothing. The port mission at Wellington requires an mcome of about £2000 a year to carry on, and while last year 17,000 men passed through the society's rooms during their stay in the city, this year the figurc i is expected to be as high as 30,000 to 40,000. The British Sailors' Society was the oldest organisation of its kind in toe world, said Mr. Lea. It operated 120 stations in various parts of the world, besides having representatives in the smaller ports. Its work was- mainly entertainment in social rooms open day and night and the equipping of men who suffered loss of clothing and personal possessions at sea through enemy action. As part of the present appeal he ^;as asking for children's clothing for distribution among the needy . families of seamen who had lost their lives. The port mission at Wellington received financial aid from shipping companies and the agents of shipping lmes, an annual grant from the National Patriotic Fund Board as well as wool for knitting and subscriptions from members and from the public, said Mr. Lea. Last week's appeal at Wanganui resulted in the raising of £125.